Arbutus, Genevant Mustn’t Dodge Vaccine Tech Suit, Acuitas Urges

Arbutus Biopharma Corp. and Genevant Sciences GmbH “are trying to avoid litigating their patents against the real innovators” behind the Comirnaty Covid-19 vaccine’s lipid-based delivery technology, Acuitas Therapeutics Inc. said in opposing their attempt to toss its pre-emptive patent suit.

Acuitas supplied its lipid nanoparticles, or LNPs, to BioNTech SE for use in the Comirnaty vaccine it co-developed with Pfizer Inc. The LNPs are now also at issue in patent infringement litigation Arbutus and Genevant filed against the two drugmakers. Acuitas’ declaratory judgment complaint claims Arbutus and Genevant’s patents are either invalid or aren’t infringed by the Comirnaty vaccine.

Acuitas’ ...